The events are advertised by Pennards through various websites; the Blandford Museum Victorian Garden is advertising locally to more than 50 Dorset garden interest and other groups and in the National press.

Orders placed directly with Pennards may be collected on the day.

Please note: CASH ONLY as there will be NO debit/credit card facilities available, due to lack of broadband connection at the hall.

All are welcome to this event; we will have information, craft and produce stalls, Tombola and a plant ID competition.

Refreshments will be served; drinks, homemade cakes and light lunches.

Entrance charge 50p, children free.

The venue will be well signed from all the access roads around Blandford and through Pimperne to the Village Hall, where there is ample free parking.

We are pleased that this is now an annual occasion in the local gardening calendar and hope we can rely on your support.

For further details please contact Heather 01258 458678

www.blandfordtownmueum.org.uk

www.pennardplants.com

www.potato-days.net

POTATO DAY 2013 POTATO DAY 2014

Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club

The Victorian garden is on land belonging to The William Williams Trust of Blandford who have leased it, on a peppercorn rent, to the Blandford Town Museum.

It is managed entirely by a group of volunteers, ‘The Blandford Museum Victorian Garden Club’ which was formed in April 2008.

Heritage varieties of crops are grown with traditional techniques, where possible, similar to those that would have been prepared and eaten in Victorian times. The idea is to help bring the museum’s Victorian kitchen scullery to life especially to parties of visiting school children.

The garden has an educational focus for the local community including those with learning and other disabilities.

A wide range of heritage varieties of fruit, flowers and vegetables are grown using traditional methods where possible.

A wildlife area includes a pond and bog garden planted with British native species, to encourage wildlife.

This garden provides the community and visitors with an attractive and peaceful place to sit awhile, close to, but away from the traffic and bustle of the town.

Volunteers, donations, grants and fund raising events all contribute to the garden’s success. We work on alternate Saturday and Sunday mornings for a few hours each day. Anyone is welcome to join in whenever time permits.

If you are...

keen to learn about and work with plants in an attractive setting

handy with tools and like doing odd jobs

a good record keeper that can help with education and grants

a cake baker, chutney maker or crafts person who likes to fundraise,

and would like to contribute to an interesting and stimulating community, why not get involved? No previous gardening skills necessary

The Victorian Garden club is regularly raising funds to develop and improve its features and compliment the Blandford Town.

Projects that have been successfully funded to date include a wheel chair friendly path and seating area, iron railings and a wrought iron gazebo with a canvas roof.

Steady streams of income include the sale of produce such as plants, jams and chutneys and occasionally vegetables and cut flowers. We also hold an annual Potato Day event in the winter that celebrates the various potato types that can be grown in a garden, as well as encouraging other horticultural interests in trees, shrubs, herbs and wildlife. We also hold an annual Potato Day event in the winter that celebrates the various potato types that can be grown in a garden, as well as encouraging other horticultural interests in trees, shrubs, herbs and wildlife.

Further fundraising events have included Open Garden days, storytelling, talks and afternoon social gatherings.

As a group we are always interested in new ideas and welcome creative input for future events. We are currently aiming to raise about £2000 for a permanent fruit cage and a polycarbonate greenhouse.